When Furman hosts Western Carolina this Saturday at 2 p.m., the Paladins will wear something different for the first time this year. Not one of those special, one-time jerseys. Just their standard home purples, which seem special because they haven’t had the opportunity to wear them in 321 days.

Since the threat of Hurricane Florence scratched the scheduled home opener against Colgate, the Paladins (0-3, 0-1) are just now getting an opportunity to play at home in 2018. They last played at Paladin Stadium on Nov. 11, 2017 when they defeated The Citadel.

This is the deepest into a season Furman has played its initial home game since hosting VMI on Oct. 2, 1982. That game was the planned home opener as Furman started that season with three road games and a scheduled open date.

“I’m happy for our kids and our fans,” said head coach Clay Hendrix. He’s now coached Furman for 16 games. Only 10 of them have been at home. The last six games going back to 2017 have been on the road.

“It seems like it’s been a year, which it almost has been,” he said. “Maybe that will help us focus and play a little better.”

Here are a few other notes leading into the Southern Conference game with Western Carolina.

Offensive Line Stability

Furman’s starting offensive line should show a bit of stability this week. At least from the standpoint that the Game 4 starters are the same as the Game 3 starters.

Against East Tennessee State, Reed Kroeber – who started the first two games at center – moved to left guard. His backup in the first two weeks of the season, Cole Neely, started at center.

“We had just struggled so bad in that group just to find the best kind of grouping,” Hendrix said. “Cole Neely – he probably played more Saturday that he had in his career and did OK in there.”

Kroeber became the third different starter in as many games at left guard. Jacob Conrad started there against Clemson while Travelers Rest High School product Bo McKinney started against Elon.

The five men up front against Western Carolina (3-0, 1-0) are expected to include Neely at center and Kroeber at left guard. The other three starters – Bo Layton at left tackle, Jordan Harris at right guard, and Andy Godwin at right tackle – have started in those spots in all three games.

“We felt like that was our five best guys,” Hendrix said.

It’s in the Details

Hendrix said his young team is stumbling on the little things.

“Where we are struggling so bad is just in the detail work,” he said. “We make a lot of mistakes, and it really costs us. Being good at the details can turn a five-yard play into a 15-yard play.”

He said the team played better against ETSU, but they must continue to improve.

“We’ve just got to grow up,” said Hendrix. “That’s a good way to sum it up.”

Quarterback Rotation

Hendrix said they will continue to use redshirt senior Harris Roberts and true freshman Darren Grainger at quarterback. Both played against ETSU, though Roberts played almost all of the second half.

“(Roberts) did some good things,” he said. “I think he missed some things he shouldn’t. Certainly, we could help him a little bit more, but he needed to help himself a little more, too. He’s one of the few older kids we’ve got. I think he understands what we’re trying to get done, which is a calming effect for such a young group of guys that we have.”

Roberts completed 10 of 21 passes for 149 yards last Saturday in his first extended action of the season. Grainger is 9 of 17 for 89 yards through four games and has thrown the team’s only touchdown pass thus far.

Hendrix said, “I also think that Darren’s earned the right to play in there some and show what he can do. Actually would like to play him a little bit more.”

Catamounts Present Concerns

One of the Western Carolina players to watch Saturday is redshirt junior Tyrie Adams. He’s run for 304 yards and four touchdowns while throwing for 599 yards and five touchdowns.

“He’s a true dual threat guy who can hurt you throwing, running,” said Hendrix. “He’s had a really productive career. He just kind of makes them go.”

Another strength for the Catamounts involves the offensive line in front of Adams. It’s an experienced bunch. All five starters are redshirt seniors. Furman’s entire two-deep depth chart includes only eight seniors.